Inclosed switch.



A. K. SUTHERLANDe INCLOSED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. I918.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET \q I! N m A. K. SUTHERLAND.

' INCLOSED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29 I918.

Patented Deli.24,'1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

arrow/101 8 I ma -m ALEXANDER K. SUTHEBLAND, 0E HEW BRITAIN, CSNIQ'EGTKGUT, ASSIGNOR TO TBUMBULL ELECTRIC M1 125" UFACTUBENG GOMPANY, 035 fLAIItTl XLLE, GONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION 035 UONEZ'ECTIC'D'T.

INGLOSEE) SWITGH.

cum

The objects of my invention to pro- 7 wide simple, practical and efiioient means for attomaticall lockin the switch in an inturmediate neutral position when switch casing is open and for automatically locking the switch casing closed, when the is-shifted in either direction to close the circuits controlled thereby;

Other objects of the invention to pro-- vlde locking means of thls character which v adapted to switches citthe can be readily character now in general use.

Further aims of the invention to provide such automatically locking means which will be positive in its operation, construction and of compactde.

Briefly stated the invention cm a preferred form locking means in me form of a plate connected so as to he shifted by the switch and adapted to lock the switch in an intermediate neutral position, said plate beingad'apted to be shifted to free the switch when the cover is closed and pro vided with special detents which are arranged to secure the coverin closed position when the switch is operated. in either direction. y

' Other features and details of construction will appear as the specification proceeds attention being new directed to the accompanymg drawings wherein l have il ustrated the invent on embodied 2: a practical conimercial form.

Figure 1 is a front 'or face view of the com lete switch with a ortion of the cover I shown broken away to expose the parts within, the switch being in the intermediate open-circuit, position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of-the switch with the cover unlocked and partly opened.

' Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed Harch 29, 1913.

switch of rugged Patented Dec. 24:, 1918, serial No. 225,447.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. l. y i

Fig. 4- is a sectional View taken substan tially on the plane of the line H 01"" Fig. 1 showing the switch in locked condition and the cover unlocked and partially opened.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the cover closed and the switch unlocked and free to be operated in either direction.

' Fig". 6 is a like View indicating the switch operated in one direction, and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the switch oper ated in the reverse direction the cover be ing locked closed under both these latter conditions.

The switch illustrated is oi a type largely used for starting alternating current motors and embodying double-armed switch blades 10 pivoted at 11 and adapted when rocked direction to engage the reversely disposed set of contacm 13. This switch is operated inthe present instance by means of a handle 14 having a hub portion-15 pivoted substantially in line with the pivot 11 of the switch blades and connected with the switch by means of an operating arm 16, engaged with the bracket -17 on the cross bar 18' which connects the several switch blades.

18 designates the so-oalled locking roemher. which is illustrated in the form of-a substantially flat plate longitudinallyslotted at 19 so as to have a rocking and slidingtit over the pivot pin 20, said plate being forked or provided with a pair of spaced lugs 21 atits lower end receivingbetween them a shouldered portion 22 of the switch operating arm whereby to cause said plate to be operated with the switch. This lock ing plate is also formed with an arcuate slot 23 provided lntermediate its ends with a locking recess or pocket 24 to receive the The locking plate is depressed against the tension of the shifting spring by means of an abutment shown as an inwardly extending pin 28 on the dependent flange 29 of the cover 30, said cover being hinged to the box body 31 which forms the receptacle for the complete switch.

The operation of the parts thus far de scribed will probably be best understood by reference to Figs. 4: and 5. In the first of these views the switch stands in the intermediate neutral position and the locking plate which is controlled thereby also stands in an intermediate position, shifted outwardly by the spring force to maintain the locking stud '25 engaged in the lockingre cess 2% in the arcuate slot 23. As the cover is closed the abutment pin 28 on the cover engages-the rounded outer end of the loci;- ing plate and shifts the plate inward indicated in Fig. to therebv cause the locking post to stand in the arcuate portion of the slot The switch it will be seen. with the cover closed, is now free to be shifted in either direction.

The cover is secured closed when the switch is thrown in either direction by means of the oppositely disposed detents and at the outer corners of the locking plate, said detents being in the nature of oppositely facing hooks, one or either of which engage over the abutmentpin 28 as the plate is rocked in one direction or the other. Thus as the switch is rocked forwardly, or upwardly in the illustration the locking plate is rocked in the reverse direction, the upper hook 3'2 engaging over the locking pin 28 (Fig. 6) and as the switch is rocked in the reverse direction, the second hook 33 is engaged over the cover abutment '28, (Fig. '7). As the locking; plate is rocked in either direction the locking post 25 engages in the arcuate portion of the slot 23 at one side or the other of the locking access ea and hence said locking plate is secured in its inwardly shifted position so that any pull exerted tov open the cover in this closed-circuit condition of the switch is taken up by the hoo'ked detents and the locking post, the latter preventing any out-ward shifting movement ot the locking plate. The hooked detents approach each other relatively closely, leaving the passage 3% therebetween sufficient only to permit the entrance of the abutment. pin therebetween, (see particularly Figs. 4 and 5). the side wall of the box being slotted at this point as indicated at o admit the abutment The locking plate may be housed within a casing, such as that indicated at 85. which may. be riveted or otherwise secured to the inner'wall of the switch casing. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the switch assen casing is locked closed when theswitch is shifted in either direction from the intermediate neutral condition, and vhirther that when the switch is shifted to the intermediate position the casing ,will be unlocked to permit opening of the cover. l fhen the cover is then ripened the switch will be locked in its neutral intermediate position and cannot be shifted to close the circuituntil the cover is again closed. The mechanism by which these results are attained is simple and relatively inexpensive and occupies but small space" I claim 2-- 1. In combination with a double-throw switch having an intermediate neutral po- 2. In combination with. a doublerthrow.

switch, a locking member operable by said switch and positioned normally to secure said double-throw switch in its intermediate neutral position, a cover for the switch,

means operable on the closing of the cover over. the switch for operating the locking member to release the switch and means controlled by said locking member for securing the cover closed over the switchwhen the switch is operated in eitherpdirect-ion from the intermediate neutral position.

3, In combination with a double-throw switch, a locking member operable by said switch and arranged normally to secure said switch in an intermediate position; a guard for said switch, means on said guard for operating; the locking member to release the. switch and means on said lockin for securing the guard over the switch when said switch is operated in either direction from said intermediate position.

i. In combination with a double-throw switch. locking means operable by said sWlt-Cll and arranged normally to lock the switch in an intermediate position, a niovable guard for the switch, means on said guard for unlocking the locking means to permit operation of the switch in. either dimember.

rection from said intermediate position, and I I securing means operable by the locking means when the switch operated in either direction for securing the guard ()"91' the switch.

In combination with a doulfdethrow switch. a pivoted locking platearranged to he swung in opposite directions when said double-throw switch is operated in opposite directions and provided with means for locking the switch in an intermediate position, a movable cover for the switch and means on the cover for shifting said locki-ng plate to unlock the switch and permit the same to be shifted from the intermediate position in either direction.

6. In combination with a doublethrow switch, a pivoted locking plate arranged to plate to unlock the switch and permit the same to be shifted from the intermediate positlon'in either direction, said locking plate having locking elements engaging the cover when the switch is shifted in either direction to thereby'secure the cover over the switch. f

7. In combination with a dcublethrow switch, a depressihle locking member oper able by the switch and arranged when not depressed to lockjhe switch in an intermediate position, a movable cover for the switch, means on said cover iforv depressing the locking member to unlock the switch and detents on said locking member engageable with the cover as the switch is shifted in either direction to secure said cover over the switch.

8.11/1 combination with a doublethrow switch, a depressible locking member operable by the switch and arranged when not depressed to lock the switch in an intermediate position, a movable cover for the switch. means on said cover for depressing the locking member to unlock the switch, detents on' said locking member engageable with the cover as the switch is shifted in either direction to secure said cover over the switch, and means for holding the locking member in depressed position as the switch is rocked in either direction.

9. In combination with a double-throw switch, a pivoted and slidably supported locking plate connected with the switch so as to be swung onits pivot in the switch movements, a locking post engaged by said locking plate in the intermediate position of the switch, movable cover over the switch, an abutment on said cover engageable with the locking plate to slide the same free of hcldih'g engagement with the lockingpost and oppositely disposed detents on the locking plate for engagement with a portion of the cover.

10. In combination with a double-throw switch, a; pivoted andv slidably supported locking plate connected with the switch so as to be swung on its pivot in the switch movements, a locking post engaged by said locking plate in the Intermediate position of place.

the switch, a movable cover over the switch, an abutment on said cover engageable with the locking plate to slide the same free of holding engagement with the locking post, oppositely disposed hooked detents having a passage therebetwcen for the abutment on the cover and arranged as the locking plate is rocked by the switch to engage over said.

abutment to thereby secure the cover in 11. In combination with a doublethrcw switch, a pivot stud, locking plate slidably and p votally engaged on said stud pro vided with an arcuate slot therein. with 'detent pocket intermediate the ends of the same, a locking; stud received. in said. slot,

means for sliding; the locking plate on. its pivot to retain. the detent pocket engaged with the locking stud, worir' connexion between the switch and. plate, where by the locking re ched on pivot by the switch, a movable cover over switch and an abutment on the cover for 'eng e ement ith the locltir pie slide i the restrsi locking;

15 3. in combination switch, a. pivot s ud, loosing plate slidabiy and pivotally engaged on said stud. and provided with an 51156311556 slot therein with a detent pocket intermediate ends of the same, a locking; stud received in said slot, means for sliding the locking; plate on its pivot to the detent pocket engaged with the locking stud, a working; connection between the switch and locking plate, where by the locking plate may be rocked on its pivot by the switch, a movable cover over the switch, an abutment on. the cover. engagement with the inching; plate to slide the same of the I straint the locking post and oppositely posed dete able over said cover uti'jllni'ltfiiliplate is recited in opposite d'recticns.

13, in a switch or thecharacter described, a casing provided; with a hinged cover, a double-throw switch mounted in said casing,

he iociringg- I a handle for, operating the switch in either i direction, a locking member pivotally and slidably supported in the casing. a locking post arranged to secure-said locking memher in position to hold the switch in a den nite condition, an abutment on the cover arranged to shittsaidioclring member and freethe same from the restraint of the looking post, and detents'on the locking member arranged to engage over the abutment on the cover as the locking member is rocked in either direction.- I I 1 14.111- combination with a double-throw switch, a pivotally and siidably supported locking plate provided with a bifurcated inner end engaged with the switch mechanis n and with oppositely disposed hooked detents at the outer corners of said plate,-

slide the locking plate to freethe locking recess from the locking post,-said abutment 10 pin being adapted to be engaged by one or the other of the'hooked detents as the lockinfi' plate is rocked in one direction or the ot er.

ALEXANDER K. SUTHE'RLAND. 

